Twerp — Content Guide for Parents
Found in this book
- ViolenceSupporting
- Scary contentBrief
- Race & cultureBrief
- Sexual contentBrief
Not found
- Religion
- Profanity
- Climate
- Gender roles
- Gender & orientation
Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Summaries and source quotes for every theme.
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Religion
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
Julian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a weeklong suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the terrible incident that got him and his friends suspended, he can get out of writing a report on Shakespeare. Julian jumps at the chance. And so begins his account of life in sixth grade--blowing up homemade fireworks, writing a love letter for his best friend (with disastrous results), and worrying whether he's still the fastest kid in school. Lurking in the background, though, is the one story he can't bring himself to tell, the one story his teacher most wants to hear.
Inspired by Mark Goldblatt's own childhood growing up in 1960s Queens, Twerp shines with humor and heart. This remarkably powerful story will have readers laughing and crying right along with these flawed but unforgettable characters.
Praise for Twerp
A Bankstreet Best Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Summer Top Ten Kids' Indie Next List Pick
A Sunshine State Award Finalist
"Reminiscent of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. . . . You don't have to be a twerp to read this book." --New York Post
"A vivid, absorbing story about one boy's misadventure, heartache, and hope for himself." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
"Mark Goldblatt is an amazingly wonderful writer." --Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
" Fans of] Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid who have matured beyond the scope and gravity of that series will find a kindred spirit in Julian." --School Library Journal
"Reminiscent of movies like The Sandlot. . . . Well-written and funny." --The Advocate
"Alternately poignant and comical. . . . A thought-provoking exploration of bullying, personal integrity and self-acceptance." --Kirkus Reviews
"A timely book." --New York Journal of Books
"Elegant in its simplicity and accessibility." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"An empathetic and authentic glimpse into the mind of a sixth-grade boy." --The Florida Times-Union
"Funny, poignant, and an effective commentary on bullying and its consequences." --The Horn Book Magazine
Frequently asked questions
Is Twerp appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The story includes kid-on-kid violence: bullies restrain younger boys, a rock hurts a pigeon, and the incident that got Julian suspended involves hurting a mentally disabled boy. A few scenes show kids hurt and bleeding, including a boy who falls on a metal fence, and the final account of the incident that got Julian suspended.
Does Twerp have violence?
Found (Supporting): The story includes kid-on-kid violence: bullies restrain younger boys, a rock hurts a pigeon, and the incident that got Julian suspended involves hurting a mentally disabled boy.
Does Twerp have scary content?
Found (Brief): A few scenes show kids hurt and bleeding, including a boy who falls on a metal fence, and the final account of the incident that got Julian suspended.
Does Twerp have religion?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Twerp have race & culture?
Found (Brief): A friend's mother is a Holocaust survivor who had part of her tongue cut out by Nazis, which is mentioned as part of her background.
Does Twerp have profanity?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Twerp have climate?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Twerp have sexual content?
Found (Brief): There are crushes and a kiss on the cheek, plus friends joking about a boy getting a "boner" and rumors about kids making out.
Does Twerp have gender roles?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Twerp have gender & orientation?
Not found in the sources we checked.
